diff --git a/source/common/engine/i_interface.h b/source/common/engine/i_interface.h
index 131e0cce2..d734dbee9 100644
--- a/source/common/engine/i_interface.h
+++ b/source/common/engine/i_interface.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ struct SystemCallbacks
 	bool (*CheckMenudefOption)(const char* opt);
 	void (*ConsoleToggled)(int state);
 	bool (*PreBindTexture)(FRenderState* state, FGameTexture*& tex, EUpscaleFlags& flags, int& scaleflags, int& clampmode, int& translation, int& overrideshader);
+	void (*FontCharCreated)(FGameTexture* base, FGameTexture* untranslated, FGameTexture* translated);
 };
 
 extern SystemCallbacks sysCallbacks;
diff --git a/source/common/fonts/font.cpp b/source/common/fonts/font.cpp
index 2a67aab37..755ef1129 100644
--- a/source/common/fonts/font.cpp
+++ b/source/common/fonts/font.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 #include "fontchars.h"
 #include "multipatchtexture.h"
 #include "texturemanager.h"
+#include "i_interface.h"
 
 #include "fontinternals.h"
 
@@ -342,6 +343,7 @@ FFont::FFont (const char *name, const char *nametemplate, const char *filetempla
 				{
 					Chars[i].TranslatedPic = tex;
 				}
+				if (sysCallbacks.FontCharCreated) sysCallbacks.FontCharCreated(pic, Chars[i].OriginalPic, Chars[i].TranslatedPic);
 
 				Chars[i].XMove = (int)Chars[i].TranslatedPic->GetDisplayWidth();
 			}
diff --git a/source/common/fonts/specialfont.cpp b/source/common/fonts/specialfont.cpp
index 7e9c0778d..637cbf866 100644
--- a/source/common/fonts/specialfont.cpp
+++ b/source/common/fonts/specialfont.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "image.h"
 #include "fontchars.h"
 #include "texturemanager.h"
+#include "i_interface.h"
 
 #include "fontinternals.h"
 
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ FSpecialFont::FSpecialFont (const char *name, int first, int count, FGameTexture
 			}
 			else Chars[i].TranslatedPic = Chars[i].OriginalPic;
 			Chars[i].XMove = (int)Chars[i].TranslatedPic->GetDisplayWidth();
+			if (sysCallbacks.FontCharCreated) sysCallbacks.FontCharCreated(pic, Chars[i].OriginalPic, Chars[i].TranslatedPic);
 		}
 		else
 		{
diff --git a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
index 0d76bb3f5..15d8bdcb4 100644
--- a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
+++ b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ void MainLoop();
 void SetConsoleNotifyBuffer();
 bool PreBindTexture(FRenderState* state, FGameTexture*& tex, EUpscaleFlags& flags, int& scaleflags, int& clampmode, int& translation, int& overrideshader);
 void PostLoadSetup();
+void FontCharCreated(FGameTexture* base, FGameTexture* untranslated, FGameTexture* translated);
 
 DBaseStatusBar* StatusBar;
 
@@ -525,7 +526,8 @@ int GameMain()
 		System_MenuClosed,
 		nullptr,
 		nullptr,
-		PreBindTexture
+		PreBindTexture,
+		FontCharCreated
 	};
 
 	try
diff --git a/source/core/textures/hightile.cpp b/source/core/textures/hightile.cpp
index 701a11aa0..eb0d2080d 100644
--- a/source/core/textures/hightile.cpp
+++ b/source/core/textures/hightile.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,24 @@ struct HightileReplacement
 static TMap<int, TArray<HightileReplacement>> tileReplacements;
 static TMap<int, TArray<HightileReplacement>> textureReplacements;
 
+struct FontCharInf
+{
+	FGameTexture* base;
+	FGameTexture* untranslated;
+	FGameTexture* translated;
+};
+
+static TArray<FontCharInf> deferredChars;
+
+void FontCharCreated(FGameTexture* base, FGameTexture* untranslated, FGameTexture* translated)
+{
+	// Store these in a list for now - they can only be processed in the finalization step.
+	if (translated == untranslated) translated = nullptr;
+	FontCharInf fci = { base, untranslated, translated };
+	deferredChars.Push(fci);
+}
+
+
 //===========================================================================
 //
 // Replacement textures
@@ -185,6 +203,32 @@ void PostLoadSetup()
 		textureReplacements.Insert(tex->GetID().GetIndex(), std::move(*Hightile));
 	}
 	tileReplacements.Clear();
+
+	int i = 0;
+	for (auto& ci : deferredChars)
+	{
+		i++;
+		auto rep = textureReplacements.CheckKey(ci.base->GetID().GetIndex());
+		if (rep)
+		{
+			if (ci.untranslated)
+			{
+				auto rrep = *rep;
+				textureReplacements.Insert(ci.untranslated->GetID().GetIndex(), std::move(rrep));
+			}
+
+			if (ci.translated)
+			{
+				//auto reptex = FindReplacement(ci.base->GetID(), 0, false);
+				//if (reptex)
+				{
+					// Todo: apply the translation.
+					//auto rrep = *rep;
+					//textureReplacements.Insert(ci.translated->GetID().GetIndex(), std::move(rrep));
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
diff --git a/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp b/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp
index 83f721232..6be7e5c77 100644
--- a/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp
+++ b/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ void InstallEngine()
     }
     uploadCinemaPalettes();
     LoadPaletteLookups();
-    InitFonts();
 }
 
 void RemoveEngine()
@@ -527,6 +526,7 @@ void GameInterface::app_init()
     // temp - moving InstallEngine(); before FadeOut as we use nextpage() in FadeOut
     InstallEngine();
     LoadDefinitions();
+    InitFonts();
     SetTileNames();
 
     TileFiles.SetBackup();
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
index efbd1425c..fd103596d 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
@@ -317,7 +317,6 @@ void GameInterface::app_init()
 	//Net_SendClientInfo();
 
 	initTiles();
-	fi.InitFonts();
 	genspriteremaps();
 	SetupGameButtons();
 	InitCheats();
@@ -333,6 +332,7 @@ void GameInterface::app_init()
 	}
 
 	LoadDefinitions();
+	fi.InitFonts();
 	SetTileNames();
 	TileFiles.SetBackup();
 	C_InitConback(TexMan.CheckForTexture("MENUSCREEN", ETextureType::Any), false, 0.75);
diff --git a/source/sw/src/game.cpp b/source/sw/src/game.cpp
index 2f6a57fd2..ccaf42fba 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/sw/src/game.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,6 @@ void GameInterface::app_init()
     }
 
     TileFiles.LoadArtSet("tiles%03d.art");
-    InitFonts();
 
     //Connect();
     SortBreakInfo();
@@ -240,6 +239,7 @@ void GameInterface::app_init()
         LoadCustomInfoFromScript("swcustom.txt");   // Load user customisation information
  
     LoadDefinitions();
+    InitFonts();
     SetTileNames();
     TileFiles.SetBackup();
     userConfig.AddDefs.reset();